Method and apparatus for controlling telephone calls using a computer call assistant

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for monitoring, making, managing and controlling telephone communications with a computer call assistant with an integrated voice/data communications system are disclosed. A call assistant computer application preferably runs on a personal computer (“PC”) coupled to the integrated system over a packet bus. The call assistant exchanges control and/or status packets with the integrated system preferably over a packet bus. The call assistant enables the user to make, receive and control telephone calls, monitor the status of the user&#39;s extension, voice mail, etc., and preferably operates with integrated systems capable of transmitting and receiving voice and data in multiple modes. In preferred embodiments, the computer call assistant operates with systems that are capable of multiple native mode voice and data transmissions and receptions with a communications system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a time division multiplexed (“TDM”) bus, a packet bus, and a control bus, and multi-protocol framing engines, preferably including subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail, file server, web server, communications server, telephony server, LAN hub and data router.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods for makingtelephone calls using a computer call assistant, and more particularlyto systems and methods for monitoring, making, managing and controllingtelephone communications using a computer call assistant with integratedsystems capable of transmitting and receiving voice and data in multiplemodes, and more particularly with systems capable of multiple nativemode voice and data transmissions and receptions with a communicationssystem having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a timedivision multiplexed (“TDM”) bus, a packet bus, and a control bus, andmulti-protocol framing engines, preferably including subsystem functionssuch as PBX, voice mail, file server, web server, communications server,telephony server, LAN hub and data router.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various integrated voice/data communications systems have been proposed.Exemplary systems of this type are disclosed in the following U.S.patents, all of which were originally assigned to the assignee of thepresent invention: U.S. application Ser. No. 09/055,072, filed on Apr.3, 1998, for Systems and Methods for Multiple Mode Voice and DataCommunications Using Intelligently Bridged TDM and Packet Buses; U.S.application Ser. No. 09/055,036, filed on Apr. 3, 1998, for System andMethod for Generating Voltages in Telephony Station Cards; U.S.application Ser. No. 09/161,550, filed on Sep. 25, 1998, for Systems andMethods for Multiple Mode Voice and Data Communications UsingIntelligently Bridged TDM and Packet Buses and Methods for PerformingTelephony and Data Functions Using the Same; U.S. application Ser. No.09/163,596, filed on Sep. 29, 1998, for Systems and Methods for MultipleMode Voice and Data Communications Using Intelligently Bridged TDM andPacket Buses and Methods for Performing Telephony and Data FunctionsUsing the Same; U.S. application Ser. No. 09/167,408, filed on Oct. 6,1998, for Systems and Methods for Multiple Mode Voice and DataCommunications Using Intelligently Bridged TDM and Packet Buses andMethods for Performing Telephony and Data Functions Using the Same; U.S.application Ser. No. 09/283,101, filed on Mar. 31, 1999 for Systems andMethods For Multiple Mode Voice and Data Communications UsingIntelligently Bridged TDM and Packet Buses and Methods For PerformingTelephony And Data Functions Using the Same; and U.S. application Ser.No. 09/368,460, filed on Aug. 4, 1999 for Systems and Methods ForMultiple Mode Voice and Data Communications Using Intelligently BridgedTDM and Packet Buses and Methods For Implementing Language CapabilitiesUsing the Same (the “Referenced Patent Documents”). The ReferencedPatent Documents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.Such integrated systems are known to provide various advanced anddesirable voice and data communications services and functions,including management and control of telephone calls and the like.

In today's business and personal environment, many users of such systemsgenerate, receive and/or display content from a wide variety of datasources on their computers. For example, a researcher maysimultaneously, or within a very short amount of time, be viewingcontent from the Internet, from local or remote data bases, from emails,from locally or remotely stored computer files, from other computer orstorage devices connected via a local area or wide area network, etc. Inmany instances, it is desirable for a user to be making, managing orcontrolling telephone calls while also engaged in viewing such contenton a computer. It also is common for a user to desire to make telephonecalls related to the viewed content, which may be a regular or frequentbasis.

While integrated voice/data communications systems such as describedabove provide various desirable telephone communications services andfunctions, improved systems and methods for making, managing andcontrolling telephone calls are desired, particularly for users of suchintegrated voice/data communications systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides systems and methods for monitoring,making, managing and controlling telephone communications with acomputer call assistant, preferably with integrated systems capable oftransmitting and receiving voice and data in multiple modes. Inpreferred embodiments, the computer call assistant operates with systemsthat are capable of multiple native mode voice and data transmissionsand receptions with a communications system having a multi-busstructure, including, for example, a time division multiplexed (“TDM”)bus, a packet bus, and a control bus, and multi-protocol framingengines, preferably including subsystem functions such as PBX, voicemail, file server, web server, communications server, telephony server,LAN hub and data router.

In preferred embodiments, call assistant is a computer application thatruns on a personal computer (“PC”) coupled to the integrated system overa packet bus (e.g., an Ethernet local area network). In preferredembodiments, the PC runs on a Windows® (Windows is believed to be aregistered trademark of Microsoft Corp.). The call assistant exchangescontrol and/or status packets with the integrated system preferably overa packet bus. The call assistant enables the user to make, receive andcontrol telephone calls, monitor the status of the user's extension,voice mail, etc.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide systemsand methods for monitoring, making, managing and controlling telephonecommunications with a computer call assistant.

It is another object of the present invention to provided such acomputer call assistant that operates with integrated systems capable oftransmitting and receiving voice and data in multiple modes.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such acomputer call assistant with an integrated system that enables nativemode voice communications, such that exist in a native PCM, circuitswitched and/or TDM mode, over a TDM bus while concurrently enablingpacket-based communications to be, for example, protocol processed andcommunicated over the TDM bus, such as is described in greater detail inthe Referenced Patent Documents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and other advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent by describing in detail the preferred embodimentsof the present invention with reference to the attached drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram from the Referenced Patent Documents thatillustrates exemplary preferred embodiments of an integrated systemutilized in preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary system tray icon configuration used in apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a table illustrating exemplary main icons, call states,descriptions, tooltips and left mouse button hit default actions in apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a table illustrating exemplary message waiting icons, iconstate, description, tooltip and left mouse button default action in apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary main menu utilized in a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a table illustrating exemplary main menu items and descriptionin a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary call flow sequence for initiating a call with acall assistant in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 8 is an exemplary screen shot of PC display illustrating anexemplary operation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described in greater detail with referenceto certain preferred and certain other embodiments, which may serve tofurther the understanding of preferred embodiments of the presentinvention. As described elsewhere herein, various refinements andsubstitutions of the various elements of the various embodiments arepossible based on the principles and teachings herein.

As previously indicated, the present invention provides a computer callassistant that facilitates monitoring, making, managing and controllingtelephone communications with a computer call assistant. The callassistant of the present invention has been determined to beparticularly useful with integrated systems capable of transmitting andreceiving voice and data in multiple modes. In preferred embodiments,the call assistant operates with systems that are capable of multiplenative mode voice and data transmissions and receptions with acommunications system having a multi-bus structure, including, forexample, a time division multiplexed (“TDM”) bus, a packet bus, and acontrol bus, and multi-protocol framing engines, preferably includingsubsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail, file server, web server,communications server, telephony server, LAN hub and data router.Preferred integrated systems are described in detail in the ReferencedPatent Documents.

FIG. 1 is a reproduction of a “FIG. 3” taken from the Reference PatentDocuments. FIG. 1 of this application is described in detail in theReferenced Patent Documents (such description is expressly incorporatedherein by reference), which will not be repeated here. What is importantis that FIG. 1 illustrates an integrated system (communication system50) coupled to a plurality of user telephones 12 and user PCs 24 (userPCs 24 provide the preferred PC system on which the preferred callassistant application is run in accordance with preferred embodiments ofthe present invention). Communication system 50 has a multi-busstructure, including one or more TDM buses 78 and one or more packetbuses 80A, 80B. Native mode voice communications may occur, for example,via telephones 12 (which may be digital or analog or a combinationthereof, but preferably are digital) over TDM bus 78 and a WAN (e.g.,POTs lines, T-1, PRI, etc. Data communications may be selectivelybridged (preferably with multiple communication paths) from one of thepacket buses (which could include packetized VoIP voice communications)to TDM bus 78, which may then couple such communications to a WANconcurrently with such native mode voice communications, etc. Oneexemplary WAN is a T-1, PRI (whole or fractional), ISDN, Frame relay orsimilar WAN interface, particularly, for example a connection such as aT-1 in which certain channels are dedicated to voice communications andcertain channels are dedicated to data communications, etc.Communication system 50 also includes processor/system resources 70,which in an exemplary preferred embodiments is a Windows-based computingsystem, which is capable of communicating with PCs 24 over a variety ofconnections, including via packet buses 80A and 80B. Such details of theconstruction and operation of communication system 50 are described ingreater detail in the Referenced Patent Documents.

In preferred embodiments, the caller assistant application is aMicrosoft Windows application that will allow the user to place outgoingcalls and be notified about incoming calls. In preferred embodiments, ifthere is only one telephone/interactive voice device associated with thePC and one extension on that device, the caller assistant applicationwill automatically use that device and extension. If there is more thanone telephone/interactive voice device associated with the PC or morethan one extension on a device, the caller assistant applicationpreferably displays a device configuration dialog box the first time thetime that the application is invoked, which allows the user to selectwhich device and extension are to “handle” the calls. With the preferredcaller assistant application being a Microsoft Windows application,standard Windows operations and conventions are known to those of skillin the art and in general will not be described in great detail herein.For example, users can highlight an item in a control list/menu, andusers can scroll up and down in a list box using the scroll bars orusing the up and down arrow keys, etc.

Also in preferred embodiments, the caller assistant application isdesigned to take up minimal desktop real estate on the user's PC. Whenit is running, one or more system tray icons preferably will appear in asmall window typically positioned near the bottom or top of the display(as system tray-type icons are well known in the art, they will not befurther discussed here; what is important is that the call assistantapplication preferably have a small visible presence on the display,which does not materially interfere with other applications that theparticular user desires to run, etc.). Preferably, there are two systemtray icons that may appear when the call assistant application runs, themain icon and the message waiting icon. In preferred embodiments, themain icon appears in the system tray at all times when the applicationis running, which provides a visual indication that the call assistantapplication is available to assist the user, etc. Exemplary icons areillustrated in FIG. 2, with the main icon illustrated as 620, and themessage waiting icon illustrated as 621. Other icons that may beincluded in the system tray, as will be appreciated by those of skill inthe art, are illustrated in FIG. 2 but not further discussed herein.

Herein, and generally in the art, placing the cursor (typicallycontrolled with a mouse or other pointer, etc.) over an icon may resultin the presence of a small window including information or images, whichare referred to as “tooltips.” In preferred embodiments, when the cursoris held over the main icon for a period of time, a tooltip will pop up.The tooltip text preferably depends on the state of the call assistantapplication. There preferably is a default action that happens when theuser clicks the left mouse button on the icon. The default actiondepends on the state of the call assistant application. There preferablyis a menu associated with the icon when the user clicks the right mousebutton on the icon.

In preferred embodiments, the main system tray icon for the callassistant application preferably will show the states shown in FIG. 3.As the exemplary icon, associated call state, description, tooltip andleft mouse button hit default action are provided in FIG. 3 in adescriptive manner, generally such icons, states, action, etc., will notbe described in great detail. Among the important points to note,however, include the following.

A plurality of icons, animated icons, etc. are provided, with theparticular icon displayed depending upon the call state and what actionswill be associated with a left mouse click on the icon. The particularicon is selected based on information sent from communication system 50,preferably via control or status packets exchanged over packet bus 80Aor 80B, etc. Preferably, upon initial running of call assistantapplication, control and/or status packets are exchanged withcommunication system 50 so that communication system 50 registers thatthe call assistant application is “registered” as running for aparticular user. Preferably configuration information is exchanged viasuch packets such that communication system 50 knows that it shouldperiodically, or upon change in status of the particular user'stelephone or extension, updated control and/or status packets areexchanged so that the displayed icons can be updated by the callassistant application consistent with the then-current status of theuser's telephone, extension, voice mail, etc. As it is desirable forcommunication system 50 to attempt to send such control and/or statuspackets to user's computers that have “registered” as running the callassistant application, communication system 50 preferably keeps aregistration of which users are running the call assistant applicationso that updated control and/or status packets are selectively sent via apacket bus only with respect to the particular user whose telephone,extension and/or voice mail has changed status. In preferredembodiments, the communication system 50 reports the then-current statusof the particular user's telephone in response to registration of theuser having launched the call assistant application, and thereafterreports any change of status as previously described. Also in preferredembodiments, as a “watch dog” type of action, preferably the user's PCperiodically queries communication system 50 for the status of theuser's telephone, extension and/or voice mail so that the call assistantapplication can confirm that it has recorded the correct current status,and is displaying the correct icon for that status, etc.

Similarly, as the user initiates actions, such as dialing or answeringcalls, etc. (as may be more fully understood from the figures and otherdescription herein), the call assistant application causes controland/or status packets to be sent from the user's PC to communicationsystem 50 so that communication system 50 can take the appropriateaction (e.g., answer the call, dial the call, connect to voice mail box,etc.). Based on the description herein and in the Referenced PatentDocuments, such exchange of control and/or status packets to carry outthe actions contemplated herein will be understood to one of skill inthe art.

In preferred embodiments, when there is a voice mail message waiting forthe user's extension or primary extension, a second icon will appear inthe system tray to the right of the main icon. When the cursor is heldover the icon for a period of time, a tooltip will pop up. Preferably,there is a default action that happens when the user clicks the leftmouse button on the icon. Also preferably, there is no menu associatedwith this icon when the user clicks the right mouse button on the icon.The user must right click on the main icon for the menu. Exemplarymessage waiting icons, status, descriptions, tooltip and left mousebutton default action are illustrated in FIG. 4.

In preferred embodiments, when the user right clicks on the main systemtray icon for the call assistant application, a main menu will bedisplayed. The main menu preferably displays a variety of actions thatmay be initiated with the call assistant application in order tofacilitate user or control of the user's telephone, extension and/orvoice mail. An exemplary main menu is illustrated in FIG. 5, andexemplary actions associated with such a main menu are illustrated inFIG. 6. It should be understood that the illustrated main menu isexemplary only, as is the associated description of action. It alsoshould be noted that FIG. 6 references various dialog boxes that may bedisplayed based on particular selections from the main menu. It will beappreciated by those of skill in the art that a variety of dialog boxesmay be displayed to carry out the associated/described action, andfurther details of such dialog boxes are not provided herein. What isimportant is that the call assistant application provide, preferablywith a simple mouse click, etc., a menu of actions that may be readilyselected by the user in order to facilitate the use and/or control ofthe user's telephone, extension and/or voice mail, etc.

In preferred embodiments, when the user right clicks on the main systemtray icon for the call assistant application, a main menu will bedisplayed. The main menu preferably displays a variety of actions thatmay be initiated with the call assistant application in order tofacilitate user or control of the user's telephone, extension and/orvoice mail. An exemplary main menu is illustrated in FIG. 5, andexemplary actions associated with such a main menu are illustrated inFIG. 6. It should be understood that the illustrated main menu isexemplary only, as is the associated description of action. It alsoshould be noted that FIG. 6 references various dialog boxes that may bedisplayed based on particular selections from the main menu. It will beappreciated by those of skill in the art that a variety of dialog boxesmay be displayed to carry out the associated/described action, andfurther details of such dialog boxes are not provided herein. What isimportant is that the call assistant application provide, preferablywith a simple mouse click, etc., a menu of actions that may be readilyselected by the user in order to facilitate the use and/or control ofthe user's telephone, extension and/or voice mail, etc.

When the main menu is available, the following menu items preferably arealways available: configure and all of its submenu items; about callassistant; and exit application. When the main menu is available AND theline is open, the following additional menu items preferably are alwaysavailable: call voice mail; forward; do not disturb; and call statussubmenu items. When the monitored extension (user telephone extension orprimary extension) is closed, the following main menu items will begrayed/disabled and there is no default menu item: make call; answercall; drop call; hold call; reconnect held call; transfer; completetransfer; conference; call voice mail; user speed dials submenu items;forward; do not disturb; and call status submenu items. When themonitored extension is open, the following describes what additionalmenu items preferably are available based on the state of the callassistant application/extension: Idle (Make Call (default) and UserSpeed Dials); Dialing (Drop Call (default)); Ringing (Answer Call(default)); Connected (Drop Call (default) and Hold Call); Holding(Reconnect Call (default) and User Speed Dials); Disconnected (Drop Call(default)); Busy (Drop Call (default)); Forwarded (Same as Idle state);and DND (Same as Idle state).

Based on the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a variety of callcontrol, voice mail access, status, etc. dialog, configuration andactivation menus may be readily displayed in order to facilitate theuser in monitoring, making, managing and controlling telephonecommunications using a computer call assistant.

FIG. 7 illustrates a preferred exemplary process flow in accordance withone preferred embodiment of the present invention. From start 600, theflow assumes that a PC is coupled to communications system 50, poweredup and running various programs. As described in the Referenced PatentDocuments, communications system 50 and the PC may undergo variousadministrative procedures, such as login, authentication, etc.; what isimportant is that communications systems 50 and the PC are operating ina coordinated manner, with command, data and/or voice being exchangedbetween the two systems, with the exemplary and preferred connectionbetween the two being an Ethernet LAN connection.

At step 601, the user PC is running a Windows application from whichvarious content is displayed on the PC. Exemplary applications includeweb browsers, data base search engines, word processors, email programsand the like. What is important is that the user is utilizing somesoftware on the PC, with the software typically being an applicationprogram that displays various images, text, data, etc., on the displayof the PC for viewing by the user. At step 602, the user highlights someportion of a displayed image that is detected typically by the operatingsystem controlling the PC. This action typically is performed by theuser highlighting displayed characters or data with a mouseclick/movement operation, as is conventional.

At step 603, the user activates the call assistant icon, which ispreferably what is known as a system tray icon. Preferably, the Windowsoperating system detects the call assistant icon activation, and programcontrol/active window status is transferred to the call assistantapplication (step 604). At step 605, the call assistant applicationdetermines which window/application was last active prior to the callassistant application becoming the active window. This preferably isdone through the call assistant application monitoring the activewindows status through what is commonly referred to as “Windows hooks,”which may be considered a Windows API query by which an application canask that the Windows operating system report which application is theactive window. While other techniques are within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention, in such preferred embodiments the call assistantapplication monitors the active window status and stores the currentactive window status (preferably in a software or virtual buffer), andupon being made the active window, the call assistant applicationretrieves information identifying the last active window, and makes thisapplication the active window (step 605). It should be noted that,although the call assistant application was made the active applicationby the user activation of the call assistant icon, due to preferredoperation of the call assistant application at steps 604 and 605,software control is returned to the previously active window/applicationquickly (i.e., after determination of which window/application was lastactive), and in preferred embodiments happens so quickly such that thefact that control was transferred from the application to the callassistant application. This momentary, and humanly imperceptibletransfer of control from the active window/application to the callassistant application, is an important and desirable attribute inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.

At step 606, with the previously active window/application made activeonce again at step 605, the call assistant application preferably issuesa copy command, which in preferred Windows based embodiments is known as“control C” type command, which causes the user highlighted portion ofthe image (step 602), which typically will contain a collection ofalpha-numeric characters/data including a telephone number, to be copiedto the Windows “clipboard.” While the present invention is not limitedto the Windows-type environment, what is important is that the callassistant application has the ability to copy the user highlightedcontent from the active window/application to a resource that isaccessible by the call assistant application for further processing. Atstep 607, the user highlighted content is retrieved by the callassistant application, which in preferred embodiments is accomplished byretrieving or copying of the clipboard contents to the call assistantapplication, where it is temporarily stored for further processing.

At step 608, the call assistant application processes the copied, userhighlighted content in order to extract or generate a telephone numberto be dialed. This may consist of a parsing of the highlighted contentto identify a telephone number is included in the highlighted content,with an error dialog box preferably displayed if the call assistantapplication is not able to identify a telephone number. In certainembodiments, if the call assistant application determines that one ormore possible strings exist in the highlighted content that may be avalid telephone number, preferably a dialog box is displayed thatpresents the user with the possible choices of telephone number, withthe user able to select the desired telephone number with a mouse click,at which time the dialog box disappears. In the general case, the userwill highlight content that includes a recognizable telephone number,which the call assistant application readily identifies. It should benoted that, at step 608, the call assistant application preferablydetermines if the telephone number is in the form of partial alphacharacters (e.g., 1-800-flowers, etc.), and if so the call assistantapplication converts the alpha characters to appropriate digits (e.g.,1-800-356-9377). What is important is that the call assistantapplication extracts/determines a telephone number from the userhighlighted content.

In addition, the call assistant application preferably has access,either locally or within resources stored within communication system50, that identifies the local area code for communication system 50, anyleading digits or the like required to place a call based on theextracted/determined telephone number. For example, the call assistantapplication, for a local call, will either not generate or delete thearea code. For long distance calls, the call assistant application willadd a leading 1 or other appropriate prefix. What is important is thatthe call assistant program contains sufficient intelligence to determinewhat sequence of digits are required in order to place a call viacommunication system 50 based on the telephone numberextracted/determined from the user highlighted content.

At step 609, the call assistant application issues one or more commandsfrom the PC to communication system 50 that direct the placing of thedesired call on the telephone associated with the particular user. Asdescribed in the Referenced Patent Documents in greater detail, atypical user has a PC and a telephone assigned to that user. Typically,the environment is an office type environment with a plurality of users,each having a telephone and a PC. In preferred embodiments, the callassistant application issues the one or more commands (typicallyEthernet packet(s)) from the user PC to communication system 50, and inresponse thereto communication system 50 takes the following preferredsequence of actions: take the user telephone off-hook, preferably in ahands-free or speakerphone mode of operation; based on an access of anyrouting tables or the like that may be applicable for the particularuser (as described in greater detail in the Referenced Patent Documents,routing tables may specify particular call routing for a particularuser, particular time of day, particular called party, etc.), determinethe trunks, signaling, commands and the like required to place the call;and place the call (step 610). Upon answer by the dialed party, the usermay then conduct a speakerphone type call, pick up the handset to talk,etc.

From a user perception standpoint, what is important is that the userhighlights the content including the telephone number to be dialed,clicks the call assistant icon, and the call is dialed (and the callassistant dialing sequence ends as is illustrated by end step 611). Thecall assistant carries out the necessary processing to extract a validtelephone number from the highlighted content, and send commands tocommunication system 50 such that the call is dialed in an expeditiousmanner.

Also illustrated are steps 612 and 613, which are utilized inalternative preferred embodiments. In the Windows operating systemenvironment, issuance of a copy command such as “control C” at step 606may overwrite the contents of the temporary storage resource, which inWindows is the clipboard. While this is acceptable for most situations(as the user can be instructed of this behavior), in alternativeembodiments the contents of the temporary storage resource/clipboard arepreserved. At step 612, for example, the call assistant applicationissues a command to retrieve and copy the contents of the temporarystorage resource/clipboard into a software or virtual buffer prior toissuance of the copy command at step 606. The flow continues aspreviously described through step 607, at which time step 613 is carriedout. At step 613, the contents of the software or virtual buffer arerestored to the temporary storage resource/clipboard. Thereafter, theflow continues as previously described.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary screen shot illustrating a web browserapplication displaying content including names and numbers of pizzavendors. A highlighted telephone is illustrated. With a click of themain system tray icon (shown in the lower right corner of FIG. 8), thecall flow illustrated in FIG. 7 may be initiated, and the telephonenumber extracted from the highlighted content and dialed via commandsfrom the user's PC sent via a packet bus to communication system 50,such as previously described.

What will be appreciated is that the call assistant of the presentinvention provides an expedient and highly desirable way of making,controlling, monitoring, etc. calls, extensions, voice mail, etc.,particularly in the context of an integrated voice/data communicationsystem such as communication system 50 described in the ReferencedPatent Documents.

Refinements to the foregoing also are within the scope of the presentinvention. In one such alternative embodiment, a number is doubleclicked by the user, and a passage of the displayed contents areautomatically highlighted (such as via line or paragraph highlighting),and via a simply right click the call assistant attempts to extract thetelephone number, with one or more telephone numbers identified by thecall assistant displayed in a call confirmation dialog box. In oneembodiment, the call is dialed if a single number is identified (or acall assistant-highlighted number if there are more than one numberidentified) after a pre-determined period of time unless the usercancels the operation; in an alternative embodiment, the call is dialedonly if the user confirms that the call action is to be taken, such asby further mouse click or hitting enter. In yet another embodiment, sucha call sequence or call dialog box is initiated by a highlight and rightclick operation on the highlighted user content. What is important isthat such alternatives, whereby other highlighting and dial initiationcommands may be utilized, are also with the scope of the presentinvention.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specificpreferred and other embodiments, it is evident that many substitutions,alternatives and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the artin light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, the invention isintended to embrace all of the alternatives and variations that fallwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, itshould be understood that, in accordance with the various alternativeembodiments described herein, various systems, and uses and methodsbased on such systems, may be obtained. The various refinements andalternative and additional features also described may be combined toprovide additional advantageous combinations and the like in accordancewith the present invention. Also as will be understood by those skilledin the art based on the foregoing description, various aspects of thepreferred embodiments may be used in various subcombinations to achieveat least certain of the benefits and attributes described herein, andsuch subcombinations also are within the scope of the present invention.All such refinements, enhancements and further uses of the presentinvention are within the scope of the present invention.

1-2. (canceled)
 3. A method for initiating a voice communication using a call assistant program associated with a communications service providing voice communications, comprising the steps of: initiating the execution of the call assistant program on a computing system; registering the call assistant program for a first user with the communications service, wherein status/control packets are periodically exchanged between the call assistant program and the communications service; displaying at least one icon on the computing system that presents status information regarding the first user; displaying user-highlighted content on the computing system; detecting activation of the user-highlighted content; determining target information associated with a telephone of a second user from the user-highlighted content; sending a voice communications initiation control packet from the call assistant program to the communications service; and initiating a voice communication via the communications service between the first computing system and the telephone of the second user.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the computing system comprises a personal computer.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the telephone of the second user comprises a personal computer.
 6. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of: determining a message waiting status by the call assistant program; and displaying a message waiting indicator on the computing system based on the message waiting status.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: periodically querying the communications service by the call assistant program for a current status information associated with the message waiting status.
 8. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of: periodically querying the communications service by the call assistant program for a current status information associated with the computing system.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of: periodically querying the communications service by the call assistant program for a current status information associated with the telephone of the second user.
 10. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining step further comprises detecting if the user highlighted content contains alpha characters, wherein alpha characters contained are selectively converted to numerical digits.
 11. The method of claim 3, wherein the communications service comprises a registration of which of a plurality of users are executing corresponding instances of the call assistant program on corresponding computing systems, and wherein a plurality of status/control packets are selectively periodically exchanged between the corresponding instances of the call assistant program and the communications service only with respect to particular users whose telephone, extension and/or voicemail has changed status.
 12. A method for providing a voice communication using a first computing system associated with a first user, comprising the steps of: providing a communications service managing voice communications between a plurality of users; providing a voice communications software application executing on the first computing system; registering the voice communications software application with the communications service, wherein status/control packets are periodically exchanged between the voice communications software application and the communications service; displaying at least one icon on the first computing system that presents status information regarding a second user; displaying user-selected content on the first computing system; detecting activation of the user-selected content; determining target information associated with a second computing system associated with the second user from the user-selected content; sending a voice communications initiation control packet from the voice communications software application to the communications service; and facilitating a voice communication via the communications service between the first computing system and the second computing system.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first computing system comprises a personal computer.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second computing system comprises a personal computer.
 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: determining a message waiting status by the voice communications software application; and displaying a message waiting indicator on the first computing system based on the message waiting status.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of: periodically querying the communications service by the voice communications software application for a current status information associated with the message waiting status.
 17. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of: periodically querying the communications service by the voice communications software application for a current status information associated with the first computing system.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of: periodically querying the communications service by the voice communications software application for a current status information associated with the second computing system.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining step further comprises detecting if the user selected content contains alpha characters, wherein alpha characters contained are selectively converted to numerical digits.
 20. The method of claim 12, wherein the communications service comprises a registration of which users are executing corresponding instances of the voice communications software application on corresponding computing systems, and wherein a plurality of status/control packets are selectively periodically exchanged between the corresponding instances of the voice communications software application and the communications service only with respect to particular users for whom a user status has changed.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the user status comprises message waiting status.
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein the user status comprises a telephone status.
 23. A method for initiating a voice communication using a first computing system associated with a first user, comprising the steps of: displaying user-selected content on the first computing system; detecting activation of the user-selected content on the first computing system; determining telephone call information based on the user-selected content; and initiating a voice communication based on the telephone call information via the first computing system; wherein the voice communication is initiated with the first computing system based on the user-selected content.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of: determining a message waiting status by a voice communications software application; and displaying a message waiting indicator on the first computing system based on the message waiting status.
 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of: periodically querying a communications service by the voice communications software application for a current status information associated with the message waiting status.
 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of: periodically querying the communications service by the voice communications software application for a current status information associated with the first computing system.
 27. The method of claim 23, wherein the determining step further comprises detecting if the user selected content contains alpha characters, wherein alpha characters contained are selectively converted to numerical digits. 